A Daughter's Plight

1.

                            
Today is something unusual. The typical hustling and bustling at Railway Station seems missing. Only some people who are there, are busy for their own destined future. No one is bothered to look at the misery of these father and daughter near the track.

There’s a man kneeling down in front of a little girl who seems to have spent only five birthdays in her life. The knelt down man wore torn khaki pants and maroon sweater. His torn pants in combination with his disheveled hair are giving him the look of a wandering beggar. His face is smeared with tears. There is a deep cut near his left eyebrow with red metallic blood seeping through it. Girl in front of him is his little daughter. Facing her father, her face is not clear. But by her clothes no one can believe that she could be this man’s own family. Where man’s face is covered with dirt, her face is nothing but purity.

“But Papa you promised you won’t leave me.’’ said the girl in her squeaky voice.

“Yes, I will always be with you Ridhu.’’ he said, wiping the tears from her daughter’s face, “this world is cruel, it is not for good... people. But always remember God always does justice_
                    ………….
DA…D, I wake up abruptly from restless slumber. My heart is beating at an unusual rate and there is a buzzing in my head. My clothes are damp from all the sweating due to nightmares. I rubbed my cheeks, I blink, close my eyes and blink again. I crook my neck to slightly left when reality came crashing down. Swallowing hard, I clutched furiously at my chest, hoping my heart would stop beating so hard or give some clarity. With a deep sigh, I kept my cold feet down the couch. I wore slippers in my trembling feet to go to my regular Sunday place, the bridge over the river. The loud sound of waves, calms my mind every time. With this hope I started walking towards it.

I remember just two days ago, I was the most happy person on this earth and why not. My plans were succeeding. My dream from past fifteen years was getting fulfilled. It was a normal day for others but for me, it was more than special. Around six in the evening I came to my apartment. I frantically searched the keys and opened the door to find a young gentleman sitting awkwardly at my couch. He was having wavy shoulder length black hair and wore jeans and paisley shirt.

“What the heck… Raunak.’’ I shouted while entering in my living room.

Yes, he was my best friend or it would be better if I say he was the only person in my life. But he was not just Raunak, my friend. He was Raunak Mahajan , son of the man who killed my father or the man who forced my father to kill himself.
Around twenty years ago, Dad was excited about his new chemical workshop. He excitedly told me “ Mahajan, my partner in crime, my buddy is now the partner in my firm as well.’’ But he was unaware that this partner in crime is weaving a new crime. Mahajan never knew that I was the daughter of his prey.  My father, in attempt to hide me from this manslaughter took me to my aunt via train and left me there with the promise to never leave me alone. He is a keeper, he kept his promise. He is with me, always behind me. Even if not physically, he is there in my heart, in my dreams and in those nightmares of restless sleeps_

“Earth to Ridhima…Where are you.” Raunak interrupted my evasive thoughts.

Cleaning the moisture from my eyes, I replied scowling “Why are you here at my place…I gave you keys in case of some emergency, not for you_”

“Hey, relax girl why you being so feisty today as if your little secrets are spilled out’’ he said with his usual smirk.